Thanks Chin for adding that touch... it adds a great deal to the adventure, at least from my perspective. I'll be in touch with Ben and we'll work something out. Here is the first edition of photos taken with Nikki. I was at Spirit Rock Meditation Center this evening and brought Nikki with me. Here is a link to Spirit Rock, which is perhaps six or seven miles from where I live.

Night was coming on but I thought I'd grab a photo of the Buddha statues on display outside the meditation hall.

There isn't a hard click on the aperture ring at f/1.8 so it is tricky getting there consistently. This shows the aperture at f/2 though I had the ring turned to the end. And here are two Buddha statues for sale in the bookstore adjacent to the meditation hall. It is self service on an honor system. The statues both stood against windows opening to the adjacent woodland.

And here is a Quan Yin statue on the side of the main altar in the meditation hall. This building was the first erected on the site which has been expanded considerably over the last decade.

I'll stretch the limit by adding a fifth photo, this of a Tibetan thangka that is about eight feet high.

Eastern spiritual traditions are very well represented in the Bay Area. We have a great number of meditation centers in Marin. In addition to Spirit Rock there is Green Gulch Zen Center and the Vedanta Retreat Center. Perhaps I'll stop by Green Gulch so Nikki can see how Zen Buddhism, which has its roots in Japan, is faring her in American. San Francisco Zen Center was founded by Suzuki Roshi who trained in Japan.

When I signed for the package I told the letter carrier about Nikki's great adventure and he was impressed! I am as well. I'm also very touched by what I discovered inside the package. Of course I knew a lens hood had been added and a filter, though I found two, not one. But then I unfolded the note that so many of you wrote on. Honestly, it brought tears to my eyes. What a remarkable thing we've done together.

I'm going to post a few photos, beyond our informal four photo limit, as I tell the story of Nikki's arrival at my home.

I'm guessing that is the original box that held Nikki when she left Australia. How far that box made it I have no idea...

Contents of the box except for this...

Nikki arrives at the "place of honor" used for most of the lens photos I've been taking of late.

And with her older sister. Interesting the relation between the lens description and the aperture ring that differs between the two lenses.

And the new coating seems evident in this comparison of their front elements.

But then look at the difference between the two lens hoods, the smaller that came with Nikki and the larger I bought for the H version. Perhaps that will save me for unwanted light.

More will be revealed in the coming days as I take Nikki on a tour of the San Francisco Bay Area....Show more →
I am glad that she got there, safe and sound. I don't think I have ever been as nervous shipping something as I was with this! Can't wait to see your shots.

CGrindahl wrote:
Sorry, no cigar. The box arrived with no hood. The hood shown in the photo I posted is one I bought shortly after buying the 85 f/1.8 H AI'd. So we have the mystery of the misplaced lens hood. Monty probably sold it...
I thought there was a hood in the earlier posts, but I didn't receive it either.

Thanks Tony for the care you gave to the lens. It was very well packed and you pulled out all the stops in sending it insured with signature confirmation. We'll have to do some exploration here about what happened to the lens hood.

I'd ask folks who had the lens after Monty to chime in. That would include Alan, Tony in Washington, D.C., Leighton, Ray and John to see who might last have used the hood. I'd like to have the hood sent to me before I pass the lens on to Ben.

Here is a shot taken today of Sue's birthday roses, given her by a friend.

rankamateur wrote:
They say 3 is the charm but in my case it took 4. Leighton started this quest with his incessant posting of fantastic images with the 50-135mm. The first I bought on Ebay was advertised perfect working condition.(should have asked questions) The zoom flopped back and forth. The 2nd I bought on Ebay and specifically asked and was told the zoom was normal. It flopped up and down. Both these sellers had over 3000 positive feedback and no negative. The 3rd I bought on the forum advertised as firm zoom. Nope not firm. Better than the others but still moved on it's own. As luck would have it I found a listing on Ebay that said the lens was new but did not have the box. I said what the heck at $80 how could you go wrong. The darn thing is unreal. Firm focus and very firm zoom. Not a mark, not a spec of dust and not any evidence it was mounted. The funny thing is I took pics with every one of them. I see not one bit of difference so that says the copies have really tight tolerances. A couple shots with the new one....Show more →

I'm glad you found this one, now keep your eye open for another great deal like this.

I love the flowers. The color and contrast output of this lens was the first thing that drew me to it. The sharpness ain't half bad either!

I almost don't dare posting more pictures 'interrupting' the wonderful story of a lens' trip in the world... Even more so as a 'beginner' in this thread, and with all the skilled photographers around.

There's not that much time to go out and shoot for me anyway, so the only thing I can do is take pictures while traveling to and from work every day. Well, at least it's not THAT cold any more, so I can enjoy traveling:

Leaving work with the 35/2.0, happy about the wonderful light coming back into the land:

And a series from Zurich Oerlikon train station, where my previously posted 85mm shot has been taken, and where I change train twice a day. All shot with the 105/2.5, yesterday night and this morning:

Roland, don't ever worry about posting lovely images such as these. We're all just having fun on here talking about and shooting with these wonderful lenses. Keep posting as I always enjoy seeing other parts of the world! After all, it's the only way I get to travel.

leighton w wrote:
Roland, don't ever worry about posting lovely images such as these. We're all just having fun on here talking about and shooting with these wonderful lenses. Keep posting as I always enjoy seeing other parts of the world! After all, it's the only way I get to travel.

Well Leighton, then lets continue your Swiss journey. You've seen the exotic sights of Oerlikon, all I have is a dull photo of the mountains but I promise you some exciting shots more over the weekend.
In the mean time, relax - buzz the stewardess for another glass of wine and enjoy the trip. 50mm f1.2

CGrindahl wrote:
I'd ask folks who had the lens after Monty to chime in. That would include Alan, Tony in Washington, D.C., Leighton, Ray and John to see who might last have used the hood. I'd like to have the hood sent to me before I pass the lens on to Ben.

I know for a fact that the hood was with the lens when I got it. These are two of my first shots. I'm pretty sure I packed it, but if not, Tony should be able to verify this.

Thanks Tony for the care you gave to the lens. It was very well packed and you pulled out all the stops in sending it insured with signature confirmation. We'll have to do some exploration here about what happened to the lens hood.

I'd ask folks who had the lens after Monty to chime in. That would include Alan, Tony in Washington, D.C., Leighton, Ray and John to see who might last have used the hood. I'd like to have the hood sent to me before I pass the lens on to Ben.

Here is a shot taken today of Sue's birthday roses, given her by a friend.